The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-12-03
Special Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, d. c., November %. 1887.
Editor Abbeville Meridional.
The week has been a rather
uneventfnl one, but that is usually
the case the week Or two before
congress meets, and generally it is
only the calm which precedes the
storm. The hotel registers + fill:
ing up, aud the host of boarding
houses are made conspicuous by the
placards in the windows-'Furnish-
ed Rooms to Rent" Every landlady
is very independent about renting
because size hopes to get a senator
or member as a tenant who will pay
anywhere from SIS to 1926 a month
for a suite of Two or three rooms,
when the whole house rents for only
$40 or $50 q month.
The mild weather Of the past week
has caused the many statesmen and
politicians in the city to stroll
along the avenue to the Capitol,
and to lounge in front of the hotels
and engage in discussing the cares
OF State which rests heavily on each
individual representative. The eve
nings and early mornings are oc.
cupied mostly in framing bills to
be introduced the first opportunity
offered in the call OF States. 1t is
expected that there will be even a
greater food of bills introduced this
than last session, and it being a short
session the lobbyists are already at
work martialing their strength for
the onslaught.
Every thing about the govern
ment departments is ominously silent
and the cabinent officers and their
chiefs of bureaux are exceedingly
guarded in all interviews had with
them, not to give any intimation as
to what their recommendations will
be on important questions to be
presented to congress for action
Even at the Government Printing
Office where all official papers are
printed, the strictest secresy is en-
joyed aud only the most tried
employees are entrusted with .tht
setting up" Of the valuable docu
ments.
Most Of the old employees Of thu
House are to he seen every day
around the House, p~ostof6ce ane
committee rooms, On the lookout fol
indications, as to the outcome Of til,
contest for the position Of door
keeper. That official has more pat
ronage than any other Of The off
Gals, and for that reason his place
is more sought after. The clerk 9
the House and the employees in hls
Office, and the postmaster, hav'
always a better chance for re-elec
ton than other officials. fer til,
reason that their positions bring
them into personal communication
with the new members long befor'
congress assemblies, and the &C
guardianship thus formed otter
ripens into friendship before Their
is any thought 10y outsiders Of can
wasting for the positions, and thu
it is that these officials ere apt to b.
elected unless there is a change il
party ascendancy' in congress. Al
though there is still much doubt a
to who will be doorkeeper, it il
thought that the support which Car
Isle, Randall, Mills, Holman, Bloun
and Springer give to Donelson vii
result in his reelection.
Representative Martin, of Texas
the successor OF Senator Regan, ha
quite recovered from the effects 0
the gas from which he came nea.
sa%ffocatiug last week. The reprcsen
tatiye, after a fatiguing days WORK
before the government departments
devoted a good portion Of the eve
ming to answering his heavy CORES
pondence, which had accumulated 70
several days. in a moment Of absent
mindedness blew the gasout instead 0
turning it off. Fortunately for bin
and his State. the mistake was discov
cred just in time to prevent fata
effects.
In either nay next letter, or at thu